Debany-Clero, Spooner, Bronfman: Our TEAM IN SPAIN

[Portia]

Since when the hell are Richard Spooner and Alice Debany Clero “second string” or “an embarassment”? Get a freakin’ grip and support your country’s efforts.

Jair, the headline of the Horse & Hound article says USET Pulls Out… As we’ve come to learn, the USET is not now nor has it ever been our National Federation, and the USA, through its NF USA Equestrian, has every right to have individuals and teams in international competition with our without the USET involvement. The USET couldn’t get it done, and USA Equestrian did.

Sorry for that outburst. Now back to your regular programming.

[This message was edited by Portia on Sep. 21, 2001 at 07:02 PM.]

[MAD]

My brother-in-law, Remi, just called my Mom and she just called me. Alice was clean on CEO in the 1st round (the only results I know so far-first hand).

I don’t know who I am happier for: America, Alice or Mom! CEO is a homebred and Mom calls him her 11th child (Alice and I have 8 brothers).

Go USA!

[MAD]

Alice and Remi are going to read the posts tonight when they are back home in Paris.

Alice said Clare rode great!

And she really thought that no one knew they were there…but when you have a sister with a big mouth, this is what you get…

I’ve asked her to post her thoughts…so let’s see if she does and can.

[MAD]

USA Equestrian, Inc.-Press Release 9/24/01

WARM RECEPTION FOR U.S. RIDERS IN NATIONS CUP FINAL

USA Equestrian (formerly AHSA) announced today that U.S. riders produced a gallant performance at the World Final of the Samsung Nations Cup Series (Jumping) in Madrid, Spain on September 23, 2001, against tough competition and received a warm reception for their participation in challenging circumstances.
The team, with one rider less than the other six teams, did not have the benefit of a discard score. Clare Bronfman (Charlton) scored 5 & 0 faults in rounds one and two respectively; Alice Debany Clero (CEO) - 0 & 8; Richard Spooner (Robinson FRH) - 2 & 4. The USA was not far off the pace when joining Spain on a seven-fault tally as round two began.

“We know we are the underdogs,” Alice Debany-Clero had said during the draw the previous day, “but the terrorists tried to paralyze our country last week and by coming here to compete we want to show them that we will not lie down because of what they did.” Standing in as Chef d’Equipe, Debany-Clero kicked off the American attack with a foot-perfect round from CEO in the first round. Claire Bronfman looked to be on the way to doing likewise until hitting the last with the big-jumping Charlton who also picked up a single time fault while Richard Spooner steered the gray, Robinson FRH, to a clean jumping round with just two time faults showing on the clock.

American chances faded when Debany-Clero dropped two fences in the second round and although Bronfman, who has clearly built up an excellent partnership with the massive gelding Charlton, got it absolutely right this time to go clear, the U.S. finished with a score of 19 to leave them in seventh position after Richard and Robinson put a foot in the water.

[Improvise]

I think this is terrific, an important step. Can’t wait to see how the audience reacts. Win or lose, just being there representing the U.S. makes us and the team winners.

---

“You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm.”
–Colette

[akrogirl]

MAD, please pass on my best wishes to the team also, and continued good luck to your sister. I am so glad that the US will be able to field a team after all.

[Portia]

Please wish your sister and the other riders and horses the very best of luck and tell them how very, very proud we are of them. Whatever their results, they will have made a point and let the world know the USA is still standing.

[MAD]

Richard: Clean with 2 times faults

Clare: Last Rail and 1 time fault

Standing 4th (remember-they have no drop score)

Not too shabby…

[Portia]

Congratulations Alice, Richard, Clare, their grooms, and all the people behind them who made this possible. I think that’s a great score given all the difficulties involved.

Some of our Nations Cup teams have done a lot worse than that in the past with teams that had 4 riders and a drop score and had a whole lot more time to prepare. And it’s really great that each horse and rider had at least one round with no rails down!

I know it’s not an exact correlation by any means, but out of curiosity I took a look at the drop scores for the other countries, all of whom had 4 riders. Here’s the totals dropped by each one:

Netherlands dropped 14
Belgium dropped 12
Spain dropped 16
Germany dropped 24
France dropped 16
Italy dropped 13
USA - no drop score.

So I think our team did da*n good!

[This message was edited by Portia on Sep. 24, 2001 at 11:01 AM.]

[baymare]

I think it was fabulous that the US was able to field a team at all, and I think that our “catch riders” did us more than proud. It must have been an emotional experience.

Thanks for rising above the bickering at our National level and bringing the US some genuine honor! If we had a flag smiley, I’d post it here!

[Coreene]

Hope she stays for this - I can’t wait to hear about it when she gets back. I bet this will be a Four Hanky cry.

[Weatherford]

Thank you MAD and thank you Alice!

The following is from Horse & Hound: <BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> USET pulls out of Nations Cup

There was outrage in some quarters at the thought of a second-string American team riding in the Samsung Nations Cup final in Madrid, after the US Equestrian Team cancelled its plans to send a squad following the terrorist attacks on New York and the Pentagon, writes Nancy Jaffer.

“It’s an insult,” said George Morris, who would have been the chef d’equip of the USET squad. “You want to send your best team to something like this. IF we can’t send the team which deserves to go, it’s better not to be represented.”

The replacement team was to consist of riders already in Europe, regardless of their standing on the computer rankings.

The USET horses went into quarantine in preparation for the trip to Spain, even after Tuesday, but continued uncertainly about air travel abroad was one of the factors that led the organization to cancel travel plans.

“The safety of our horses and riders is always of utmost concern,” said USET vice-chairman Armand Leone, jr. “There is an equally important reason not to send out athletes to participate at this time. Just as Major League Baseball and other sports organizations have cancelled their games and competitions in the wake of this week’s terrorist attacks, so too is the USET doing this out of respect for the victims and the loved ones they’ve left behind.” <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

[wtywmn4]

Portia, you go girl!!!

Absolutely Mad, you tell Alice and all the team members they are terrific, so little time for them to prepare for this. But wow, we will have a very good team representing us there, and thats superb!!

[MAD]

More news from Spain

Alice and CEO had 2 rails in the 2nd round.

[Dementia_13]

I am hoping they show this on OLN.

Congratulations everyone!